Quark ExpeditionsReviews of quarkexpeditions.com

My choice of Ultramarine centred around the idea of maximising activities / landings during my time in Antarctica, and to enjoy comfort for what is most likely a once in a lifetime trip. It did not disappoint. This was an exceptional experience and voyage, that may be the best travel experience I’ve had. My trip involved a night in Buenos Aires and a charter flight to Ushuaia. While I probably wouldn’t have chosen this if I was putting my own itinerary together, it was nice to meet with fellow passengers before travelling, and as a solo traveller, it helped establish friendships which became the absolute highlight of the trip. From the moment of boarding, it was clear that this is a ship and product of the highest quality. I also had the amazing bonus that I’d booked a space in a twin share, but ended up having the room to myself as a double. The room was so comfortable, so spacious and so well designed. Storage galore, exceptionally comfy bed, a roomy shower and bathroom with underfloor heating. The screen with sailing info, livestreams of lectures etc was useful. A great housekeeping team too! Food on board was amazing - my friends and I preferred the Balena to the more casual restaurant, and whether it was the buffets for breakfast / lunch, or the a la carte for dinner, the quality and choice was fantastic. There simply wasn’t a bad dining experience in 10 days / 9 nights, and the restaurant team were excellent. The professionalism and slickness of delivery for the activities were outstanding. I did paddleboarding, kayaking, zodiac trips and landings, and the helicopter sightseeing, and each one was memorable. They did have a medical emergency for a crew member which necessitated a diversion for a medical evacuation for the man. While this sent us away from a couple of planned sites, they arranged an excellent alternative at very short notice (Penguin Island). This change did mean that the camping on the ice didn’t happen, but it was fully understandable and I would not change a thing from the overall trip. As a new ship, the standards are high in every area. Sauna, gym, panorama lounge, lovely boutique and ambassador theatre. The full crew, and particularly the expedition team were just brilliant. The talks - including the later evening bar talks - were varied and interesting. Even the included “basic” WiFi was actually reasonably good. The overall atmosphere on board was so enjoyable, and as mentioned above, to make friends for life was some added bonus. My only criticism isn’t relating to the trip itself - Quark promise a photo journal of the trip, and it’s been a bit of a saga that still isn’t fully resolved after more than seven weeks - wrong photos, incomplete photo sets etc. I don’t know if we’re unlucky or if this is a common issue. However, overall it was an amazing experience, and I’d be hard pressed to choose a provider other than Quark for any future polar travel.

I had an unforgettable experience with Quark in Antarctica. The attention to detail, knowledgeable guides, and seamless logistics made my journey truly exceptional. The breathtaking landscapes, coupled with their commitment to sustainability, created a once in a lifetime adventure. I highly recommend Quark for anyone seeking an extraordinary Antarctic expedition.

The whole experience was well planned, organised and exhilerating. Expedition staff were knowledgeable, helpful and experienced in managing visitors new to Polar regions. Hotel staff were equally courteous, helpful and always on hand to fill glasses, remove dishes, take orders and nothing was too much trouble. Ships crew were unobtrusive, rarely seen and always polite if you met them.

Excelente incrível

need more areas of hot water.

The food, the staff, the other passengers all made the trip a great experience.

Out-of-this-world experience, out-of-this-world crew. I highly recommend Shane and his team.

The expedition team was run with humor, efficiency, fairmindedness, and vision. They made safety first and made sure things ran smoothly so the maximum positive experience could be achieved each day for all of us. Each day was reviewed and then the next day was planned so we could know how to dress, when to be ready etc. The lectures were of high quality and sufficient scientific rigor without being over our heads. The science crew was available and happy to discuss and interpret what we were seeing. Our objective was met, visitng the Emperor Colony, twice, as weather permitted. Being able to visit the bridge was a privilege and great fun. I would have changed really only one thing. Each of us wanted a front seat in the helicopter. Aggressive, obnoxious and pushy people succeeded. I got lucky once but only by the generosity of my companions. I believe a better system could be in place. Despite this, I would choose to go with Quark again. The ship is gorgeous and built for these journeys. The housekeeping excellent, food service marvelous. Is this trip to Antarctica my trip of a lifetime? I would hope, no, only the first of more.